Electric fence charger



Aug. 17, 1937. L. HEIDGER ELECTRIC FENCE CHARGER Filed Aug. 12, 1955VENTOR i I I mm In ATTORNEY Patented A... 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATIENTOFFICE This invention relates to fences and more particularly to anelectric fence capable of preventing farm animals from. crossing'thefence by reason of a periodic charge of electricity in the fence wireand is an improvement in applicants co-pending application, Serial No.5,951, filed February 11, 1935.

In farm work, and particularly during harvest time, it is highlydesirable to have a way of rapidly fencing oif parts of the farm andkeeping the animals safely corralled in those parts.

The sensitiveness of animals to electricity suggests the possibility ofa single wire fence charged by a constant electric current. Heretofore,two

general types of apparatushave been used to charge the fence wire.

One of these methods involves the use of an ordinary induction coil orautomobile ignition coil operated by a battery. These coils, however,

have proved themselves totally incapable of handling the work due tohigh current consumption, and the necessity of constantly recharging thebattery. The farmer, during harvest time has no time to watch storagebatteries and attend to their charging.

The other type of charging apparatus utilizes thermostatic cut outs andlight bulbs. erative bulbs are also used in some systems. These, too,require too much current to be used on low voltage direct current, andtherefore do not solve the problem.

One object of the present invention is to provide an electric fencewhich will operate on a low wattage and which will be effective in pre-35 venting ,the passage of farm anim'als therethrough. A further objectis to provide a machine which can be economically manufactured and whichwill be rugged and eflicient.

Other objects will be apparent upon considering the followingspecification.

In the drawing:

Fig.1 is a wiring diagram of the present invention, especially wired fora storage battery 45 with an alternative connection to an A. C. powerline, shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an isometric projection of the transformer unit used in thepresent invention with one corner of the transformer broken away to 50more clearly show another part.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the circuit breaker shown in Fi 2.

' Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the bracket which supports the circuitbreaker. 55 Referring to Fig. 1, which shows the circuit,

Regena storage battery 5 is connected to the primary coil 6 of a currenttransformer, generally desig-- nated 8 and shown in Fig. 2, through acircuit breaker generally designated l2. A rheostat 9, a switch l0, anda fuse Il may also be connected in series with the primary coil. Asecondary coil I3 of the transformer 8 is connected to a fence I4 withan ammeter l5 connected in series in the circuit. The return to thesecondary coil is made through the ground Hi.

If it is desired to operate on 32 volts D. C. the transformer can bewound for that voltage.

If 110 v. A. C. is available a step down transformer l3 may be connectedto the 110 v. line as shown and the secondary of the transformer I8connected to the transformer 8 as shown by the dotted lines IS, with thestorage battery 5 eliminated. This is preferable to winding thetransformer 3 for 110 v. A. C. since the making and breaking of thecircuit breaker l2 on a 110 v. circuit causes a decided radiointerference.

The current transformer 8, comprises a primary coil 6 and a secondarycoil [3, which may be wound as a single unit as shown in Fig. 2. Thecore of the transformer is preferably laminated and extends through thecenter of the coils Ii and I3 as shown at 2| and extends around the topof the coils 6 and i3. The ends 22 and 23 of the core 20 terminate inspaced'relationship and define an air space 24 between them which is ina relatively strong magnetic field when the primary coil 6 is energized.If desired thecore mayalso extend under the coils B and I3 as shown at25 with'an air gap between the ends similar to the gap 24.

A bracket 26, best shown in Fig. 4, has a flat face with two legs 21-21at right angles thereto, which are fastened by machine screws or rivetsto one end of the core 20. The bracket supports the circuit breaker l2(shown in Fig. 3).

The circuit breaker i2 is mounted on a base which has a bearing 3|supported therein adjacent one corner of the base which rotatablysupports a shaft 32. The shaft 32 carries an arm 33 which depends fromthe shaft. A plunger is fixed on the lower end of the shaft and isadapted to swing into and out of the space 24 between the ends 22 and 23of the core 20.

A bracket 33 is fixed on the base and has a 1 pair of set screws 31 and33 to limit the swing of the arm 33. L

A contactor arm 40 is fixed to the base through a bracket ll, and has acontact element 42 hired on the lower end thereof. The contact 42 formsa connection with a contact 43 which is supported on a bracket 65 on thebase 36. A condenser 46 may be interposed across the points as shown inFig. 1 to reduce sparking.

A breaker arm 50 is fixed to the shaft 32, 5 and engages the contactorarm 40 to break the circuit across the contacts @243 when the plunger 35moves into the magnetic field 26.

A signal 52 indicates when the device is o erating. The electricalconnections are shown in Fig. 1.

Operation When the switch I8 is thrown in to complete the circuit,energy fiows from the battery 5, l5 through the switch ill, the fuse H,the bracket M, the contact arm 60, across the points l2tl3,

and the bracket 35 to the primary coil 6 of the transformer 8. From theprimary coil the current returns to the battery through the rheostat 9.

When the coil 6 is energized it creates a strong magnetic field acrossthe air gap 26, which draws in the iron or soft steel plunger 35. Whenthe plunger 35 swings into the air space the breaker arm 50 engages thearm iii and breaks the circuit across the contact points 62- 33. Thisde-energizes the core 29- and causes the plunger to fall back to itsnormal or lowermost position. When the plunger falls back the contactpoints 30 82-413 again make contact to re-energize the coil and start'.,a new cycle.

At each make and break of the circuit a current is induced into thesecondary coil, the intensity of which depends on well known electricalprinciples.

The screws 3l38 are adjusted so as to send a current over the fence atfrequent enough intervals to keep the animals from breaking through thefence while the current is off.

Having thus described the invention it will be apparent that it issusceptible to various changes and modifications which fall within theprinciples brought out in the specification. It is not, therefore,desired to limit the invention to only by the scope of the sub-joinedclaims.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric fence charger of the character described, comprising atransformer including. a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a coreextending through said coils and substantially surrounding the same,with the ends of the core terminating in spaced relationship; means toenergize the primary coil, whereby a strong magnetic field is createdbetween the ends of said core; a circuit breaker comprising, an ironplunger pivoted about an axis spaced therefrom and adapted to move intothe space between the ends of the core upon energization of the primarycoil, and means connected to the plunger to make and break the primarycircuit as the plunger swings into and out of said space.

the precise form herein shown and described but 2. An electric fencecharger of the character described, comprising a transformer including,a primarycoil, a secondary coil, and a core extending through said coilsand substantially surrounding the exterior thereof with the ends of thecore terminating in spaced relationship; means to energize theprimarycoil, whereby a strong magnetic field is created between the ends of thecore; a circuit breaker including, an iron plunger mounted to move intoand out of .the magnetic field in a plane perpendicular to the plane ofthe core between the ends of the core, and meansconnected to saidplungerand operable to break the circuit.

3. An electric fence charger of the character described, comprising atransformer including, a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a coreextending through said coils and substantially surrounding the same,with the ends of the core terminating in spaced relationship; means toenergize the primary coil, whereby a strong magnetic field is createdbetween the ends of the core; a bracket fixed on one end of the core; acircuit breaker fixed to said bracket, said circuit breaker including, aplunger adapted to move into the magnetic field between the ends of thecore upon energization thereof, and means operable by said plunger tobreak the circui through the primary coil.

4. An electric fence charger of the character described, comprising atransformer including, a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a coreextending throughsaid coils and substantially surrounding the same, theends of said core terminating in spaced relationship; means to energizethe primary coil and thereby create a strong magnetic field between theends of the core; a bracket fixed on one end of the core; a circuitbreaker fixed to said bracket, said circuit. breaker comprising, a base,a bearing mounted in said base, a shaft rotatably mounted .in saidbearing, an arm fixed on the shaft and netic field is establishedbetween the ends of the core; a circuit breaker including, a memberadapted to move into and out of said magnetic field at right anglesthereto, and means connected to said last named member to break saidcircuit.

LEONARD HEDGER.

